So I'm finally home, mainly for Katie and Nick's wedding, and though I'm happy and excited to be a part of their day, something just isn't right. How is it that the place that I grew up with, where I lived for over twenty years, feels more foreign to me than any country I've ever been to? Is it possible for you to know a place too well? You know how some people say you can drink yourself sober; has my existence in Bloomington IL finally come full circle? It's like there is nothing else for me there. I have friends and family, sure. But it's just not home anymore. So, for the indefinite future, I suppose I have no home. Or, the world is my home. I'm content with that.

The two weeks spent in my former home were exactly as expected. Chaotic, tiring, frustrating...and yes, a hell of a lot of fun. A bachelorette party in St Louis was followed by a week of preparing for the wedding which turned out splendidly. It was low key, but beautiful. The most memorable part though, was that in the middle of saying her vows, when asked by the pastor "til death do you part?", Katie replies with a resounding "Huh?", as if she wasn't aware that what shewas getting into was for life. Everyone chuckled, the photographer got a great photo, Katie corrected herself and they moved on. Great memories always come from the things that aren't supposed to happen. Really, who wants a "perfect" wedding. My mom always likes to tell the story of when my cousin and I were in a wedding together, he as ring bearer and myself as flower girl. In the middle of the cermony, he and I were sitting on the steps at the front of the church tossing the ring pillow back and forth. I've never seen it, but apparently on the video from the wedding, you can hear Ben, my cousin, shout out "nice catch!". Even though the only memory I have of that day has been told to me, I still smile when thinking of that imperfect moment. Hopefully the rest of my life will be filled with imperfectness.

I'm on my way to Scotland with my sister next. Tara and I are going to travel in triangle form; from Glasgow to Inverness and finally to Edinburgh where we will part ways. She will head back home, and I will head to Germany for a few days for a friend's thirtieth birthday. Moving on...